La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
While The Kid Brother and I were waiting for our pastrami sandwiches at Court Street Bagels, we read the flyers hanging on the wall by our table. One was for a 1-bedroom, 1-bath apartment in the neighborhood for a mere $4,500 a month. As The Kid Brother said, “What are they nuts?!?” I snapped a quick photo simply because I thought it was interesting (i.e., shocking).
Later, when I looked more closely I discovered the apartment is in what is now known as the BellTel building (short for Bell Telephone). One of Brooklyn’s first skyscrapers at 27 floors (plus 3 underground), it’s an art-deco building completed in 1931 as home to New York Telephone Co., my father’s employer for 34 years. This was where he had his office for nearly 20 of those years until his retirement in the mid-1980s. Who knows? This apartment may even be his former office. He died in 1987. A lot has changed in Downtown Brooklyn since then.
Mientras El Hermanito y y0esperábamos nuestros sándwiches de pastrami en Court Street Bagels, leímos los folletos colgados en la pared junto a nuestra mesa. Uno era para un apartamento de 1 dormitorio y 1 baño en el vecindario por sólo 4.500 dólares al mes. Como dijo The Kid Brother: “¿¡¿Qué están locos?!?” Tomé una foto rápida simplemente porque pensé que era interesante (es decir, impactante).
Más tarde, cuando miré más de cerca descubrí que el apartamento está en lo que ahora se conoce como el edificio BellTel (abreviatura de Bell Telephone). Uno de los primeros rascacielos de Brooklyn, con 27 pisos (más 3 subterráneos), es un edificio art déco terminado en 1931 como sede de New York Telephone Co., el empleador de mi padre durante 34 años. Aquí tuvo su oficina posiblemente durante 20 de esos años hasta su jubilación a mediados de los años 1980. ¿Quién sabe? Este apartamento puede incluso ser su antigua oficina. Murió en 1987. Muchas cosas han cambiado en el centro de Brooklyn desde entonces.
• Residencias de lujo en venta y arrendamiento. El edificio Dime Savings Bank será renovado como parte de la nueva torre y tendrá piscinas en el techo, entre otras comodidades en el edificio antiguo.
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.
Nice building, wouldn’t want to rent there.
Kirk:
The views are spectacular.
Breathtakingly expensive, but I guess that’s New York.
Debra:
When I left Brooklyn in 1980 I was paying $200 a month for my 1-bedroom apartment in an art deco building.
Alexander Graham Bell really got around. He ‘summered’ here in Nova Scotia (Baddeck, Cape Breton) up until around his death. What a legacy he has!
And I thought ‘rents’ were expensive here!!
Jim:
I guess I won’t be going back to New York. I wonder how much my $200/month apartment costs now.
The first office I had in DC, would make a great apartment. You read the ad and it is a great place to live and work, our homes are becoming our workplaces.
David:
To live there, you’d have to work yourself to death. No time for a commute.
It’s so hard to imagine that someone with enough income to pay that sort of rent would be content with a one bedroom apartment that doesn’t even have a balcony. But hey! I know nothing of NY rentals.
Ms. Moon
Ms. Moon:
I can’t imagine it either. And that appears to be one of the cheapest rentals in the building. No wonder there are so many people living on the streets.
It’s a great building (I like art-deco) and would be a fun place to live… but definitely not at that price.
Kelly:
I agree. The views are spectacular. I would want one of the bigger apartments. But no way would I (or could I) pay that.
I’m amazed someone thought putting that ugly brown glass pinnacle on top of that charming old bank was a good idea! I despair of developers and city planners – the Bell building’s about the only passable tower of the lot, and no, I would not want to live there.
Speaking of Art Deco, London’s splendid “55 Broadway” – former home of London Transport/TfL – is being made into a hotel, which is perhaps more fitting than apartments… Jx
Jon:
When I was first in the neighborhood I didn’t even realize the bank and the tower had anything to do with each other. Strange design. I wonder if they’ll end up tied together visually in any way (but how?).
I could never afford to live in NYC. The rents are outrageous. Two of my three kids live there and I know that it’s just not for me. Nice place to visit though!
mcpersonalspace54:
And that’s what I said 40 years ago! I just discovered the apartment I rented in Brooklyn for $200 a month is for sale for $623,000.
It’s amazing the price of real estate in large cities. Michael would like to live in a large city when he retires, but I don’t think we can afford it!
I could spend 4500 a month on the right place but this is not it!
Bob:
I once could. Can’t anymore. But this is definitely not it anyway.
Brooklyn has certainly changed since I’ve been there. I’d love to go back and explore! That BellTel building reminds me of the A.E. Smith building in Albany. Also in the Art Deco style, if I’m not mistaken.
Walt the Fourth:
You’re so right. I just looked at photos of the AE Smith. Brooklyn is nothing like it was when I lived there. Even Williamsburg has become unaffordable.
Rent is high here, too, but not that high. A 2 bedroom 1 bathroom house in an okay neighborhood can be rented for about $1500-2000/month. I’m glad I bought my house when I did because I wouldn’t be able to afford it now. I love all the photos of New York.
Love,
Janie
janiejunebug:
I’m shocked at how much rents and prices have gone up in the 10+ years we’ve lived in Fuengirola. We were lucky to get in when we did. Still, they don’t compare to New York.
I barely recognize that area anymore. The apartment in the Bel-Tel building probably IS really nice — a corner unit on the 13th floor — but yeah, that rent is insane. It better come with massages and complimentary weekly champagne.
Steve:
It’s still changing so much. I barely recognize it from one year to the next. I saw some listings for other apartments in the BellTel building. Either the photos for this one don’t do it justice, or it’s not as nice as the others (it’s much cheaper, if you can believe it).
Renters keep raising the rent there’s going to be a French Revolution style thing going on
Adam:
I don’t know how normal people afford to live anywhere in NYC anymore. Rents have increased by 2000 percent since I left in 1980. Obviously salaries have not. It’s insane.
Beautiful picks. I am at an age I finally understand why old people complain about prices, because I do that now, too. “I remember when a comic book was just 50 cents. Now they are $3.99.” Uggh!
Sassybear:
Hey! Are you saying I’m an old people? It’s not age, it’s rampant inflation. (I remember when comic books went up from 10 cents!)